Actuating device for electric apparatus



Oct. 27, 1936. J JUNGHQLM 2,058,695

ACTUATING DEVIE FOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 Oct. 27, 1936. K, Q 'L 2,058,695

ACTUATING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 24, 195:5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 27, 1936 A TUATING nsvios ron ELECTRIC I APPARATUS" Karl Johan Junghol m, Steek l iol m, A pplication August 24, ise's'iseriaino. 686,608

In Sweden August In electric installations in localities which contain infiammablesl or humid, or"corroding' gasesit is for the sakeof safety veryimport ant that the installation is cut off from the mains of an electric current supply net, when not in use. For this purpose it is'necessary 'to use switches placed outside such localities and in such and many other cases it is desirable toactuate switches or other electric apparatus from a place outside the ro'omin which the electric apparatus is placed. Usually the switch which is outside the'installation room is actuated by'the operator in the inflammable room by means extending through the partition to the fireproof room, where the switch is located. For actuating the apparatus a shaft is used passing through one or more walls. Many devices were proposed for this purpose but they are generally very iexa pensive, difiicult to mount and in many cases not reliable. i

The chief purpose of this invention is to cre-i ate an inexpensive and efficient'but also safede vice for mounting such shafts passing through oneor more Walls.

such devices as to bevery simple to mount and to be easily and safely mountable by means 'of few, simple tools at a time.

Another purpose of this invention is to mount such shafts in plates interconnected by means of a tube enclosing the shaft.

Other purposes of this invention Will' dentfrom the following specification and-claims.

trated in the annexed drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view'of an electric installation having a switch-with an actuating device in ac?- cordance with this invention.

this invention.

Fig. 2a shows some details of Fig. 2 of alarg er scale and with some parts broken away, and

45with the handle turned 90.

Fig. 2b shows a section on the line IIb-qlb ijn Fig. 2a.

Fig. 3 shows a detail of a device intended to prevent mechanical amage on the breaking parts'offthe switch.

Fig; 4 shows a side view, partially in vertical section, of a modified device inaccordance'with this invention.

se scale withsoine'parts broken away.

Another purpose of this invention is to create minimum consumption of be'evi Some embodiments of this-invention-are ill Ilse Fig.2 shows a side view, partially in vertical section, of an actuating device in accordance with- 'Fig. 4a shows some details of Fig. 4 on' a 'l'arger "Fig. 4b is a section on the line IVb-IVb in Figl' la."

Fig. 5 shows-an end'view of partofthe rope-' actuated lever shown in Fig. 4 and V jFig; 6 shows an end View of the toothed disk connected with said lever.

' Fig. '7 shows, partially in vertical section, a

detail (if-another embodiment of the connection between the-switch and the actuatingshaft.

-' Fig: 8' is a view of' an embodiment, in which the switch is not co-axial with the actuating member." "'i Fig. 9 shows another embodiment, in which therei'isf'aroom between the switch and the actuating""mernber;"'

Fig; 10 illustrates 'asimilar case in which the switch is'in addition not co -axial with theactuatingjmernberg e 1i i'sy a' cross section on the line XI XI in Fig. 12 and" Fig.-' 1'2'i s"a' detailview, partly in section, to'

showfthe connection-between an actuating shaft and a shaft of extension to which'it is'connected.'

Fig'.'-I3"i sa cross section on the line XIII-XIII in"Fig. 12l j '"Referrir'ig now to Fig. 1 of the drawingsA indic'ates a -'locality':' containing inflammables or or corro'ding vapors or the like, while B is an -adjacentjdiy, and fire-proof room. In the locality A'i'sfa'n electric installation, indicated as aiwholefby-C; such as anilluminating installation' which-maybe switched 'on and disconnected by"means of a switch D placed in the room B.

To render itpossible toactuate this switch from tlieiocality A an actuating member E is conhe switch D through the wall be- 5 Inc invention refers to impave e t through walls. Q n U Oneienib'odiinent of the switch D is" shown in Figs; "2 andi2d of .the drawings. The switch D is secured .toia 'bracjkcfiz which is fixedto the: wall 3.* ;"Through said w'all a'hole 4 is cut and two discs 5; are a'rrangjedat the two ends of said hole. Attheir inner" sides said discs have sockets or tube connections 6" threaded on their inner side and,

preferably, i'integral with the discs 5 (Fig. 2a). A. tube .1 'threaded on its outer side is screwed" into said twotubejconnections B"'and serves to connect thetwodisc'sf 5 rigidly. Short pins or screws- 8.,a1 e inserted through said. discs 5 and;

penetrate intothe wall 3 to a'j'short" distance. Said fpiris'scr'ews "do not substantially 1 secure the discs to thewallbut are merelyintended to prevent' 'them from rotating.

ch" actuating devices" passing In the discs 5 two journals 9, III are rotatably journalled. To the journal 9 an actuating member in the shape of a handle H is secured for instance, by means of a pin I la and the opposite end of this journal is formed into (is integral with) a. connecting socket l2. The journal I is connected to the movable part of the switch D at I3 by means of a pin I30. and formed into (is integral with) a connecting socket ll. Between the connecting sockets I2 and M an intermediate shaft l is inserted. The sockets or journal extensions [2, I 4 are engaged by corresponding extensions l5a on the ends of the intermediate shaft l5 to cause the journals and the intermediate shaft to act as an undivided shaft for transmitting rotary motion for actuating the switch. It is to be observed that the journals 9 and ID are non-slidably journalled in the discs 5 and that the right hand disc 5 together with the parts 9, I I, I2 on one hand and the left hand disc 5 together with the parts I0, l3, I4 on the other hand form assembled aggregates, even before they are mounted on the wall.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the casing of the switch D is provided with two abutments I6 and to the journal It! a projection or an arm I! is secured by a pin Ila to co-operate with the stationary abutments I6 to limit the rotating motion of the actuating shaft and the handle H so as to prevent over-strains on the breaking parts of the switch.

In Figs. 4, 4a, and 4b the switch D is secured directly to the wall 3 and the shaft of the switch is at right angles to the actuating shaft 9 passing through the wall 3. Said two shafts are interconnected by means of the bevel gear l8, I9. The wheel I8 is keyed on one end of the journal l0 and on the other end of said journal a socket M1) is secured by means of the pin Ida. Thus, the journal I 0 is rotatably but non-slidably journalled in the disc 5, forming an aggregate together with the parts l8, Mb, and Ma. The parts It and Nb serve as stops, preventing axial motion of said journal 10. The journal 9 is extended to a square rod 9a directly engaging a corresponding recess in the socket Mb, as shown in Figs. 4d and 4b. The actuating device for the switch consists of a rope lever 22 which is disc-shaped and secured to the journal 9 by means of a disc 20 secured on the journal 9 by means of a pin 20a. Thus, the journal 9 is prevented from sliding axially by a collar 9b integral therewith and by the disc 20 secured thereto. The right hand disc 5 together with the journal 9 and the disc 20 forms a ready-made aggregate even before they are mounted on the wall. Said aggregate is, preferably, assembled in the factory and delivered as a unit. The rope lever and the disc are shown in detail in Figs. 5 and 6. The lever 22 is secured to the disc 20 by means of two screws 23. To render it possible to adjust the rope lever 22 in different angular positions the disc 20 is provided with a number of slots or holes 2! intended to register with the holes 24 'cut in the lever 22. By inserting the screws 23 in different holes or slots 2| of the disc 20 the lever 22 may be adjusted to different angular positions. To render it possible to make small adjustments of the angular position of the lever 22 said lever is provided with two pairs of holes 24, so arranged in relation to each other that if the screws 23 are moved from one pair of holes 24 to the other while using suitable holes 2| of the disc 20, the lever 22 is adjusted to an angle, which is only half of the angle (center angle) between two adjacent holes or slots of the disc 20. In other respects this embodiment is similar to that shown in Figs. 2' and 2a.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7 one of the discs 5 forms part of the casing of the switch D.

In Figs. 8-10 some embodiments are shown to illustrate cases in which the switch and the actuating device are not co-axial or there is a room between the rooms in which the actuating device and the switch are placed. The invention is, however, not limited to such embodiments but may also be used in combination with other mechanical or electric distance control devices.

In Fig. 8 the actuating member 26 is by means of an actuating shaft in accordance with this invention connected through the wall 3 with a sprocket wheel 27, a rope wheel or the like which via a chain 28, a rope or the like drives a corresponding wheel on the shaft of the switch D. In other respects this embodiment is similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 2a and corresponding parts carry the same reference characters.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 the actuating member 26 is by means of an actuating shaft in accordance with this invention connected through the wall 3 with an additional shaft or extension 29 passing through the room F between the rooms A and B. The shaft 29 is by means of a second actuating shaft ID in accordance with this invention connected through the wall 3a with the switch D. In other respects this embodiment is similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 2a, and corresponding parts carry the same reference characters.

In Fig. an embodiment is shown in which the shafts of the switch and the actuating device are not coaxial and there are rooms between the two rooms in which the switch and the actuating member are placed. The actuating member 26 in the room A is by means of a first actuating shaft connected through the wall 3 with a rope wheel 30 connected via a rope 3| with a rope wheel 32 which is placed upon or connected with a shaft of extension 29 in the room F. In a similar manner the shaft 29 is via a second actuating shaft connected with the switch D in the room B.

A journal and an intermediate shaft, or two journals, or an actuating shaft and a shaft of extension in the devices in accordance with this invention may be coupled together, for instance, as shown in Figs. 11-13.

In Figs. 11-13 the journal 9 is provided with two crossing slots into which the intermediate shaft l5 fits, said shaft having a cross-shaped cross-section. To the journal 9 a coupling disc 35 is secured which is bolted to a coupling disc 36 carrying a journal 34a provided with two longitudinal ribs. The shaft of extension 29 is tubeshaped and slotted at one end to engage said ribs. As is evident from Fig. 12, the tube 1 and the tube connections 6 may not be threaded. In such case the tube 1 is only pushed into the tube connections 6.

It is to be observed that the device in accordance with this invention may easily be adapted to different thickness of the walls. For this purpose the intermediate shaft I5 (Figs. 2, 7, and 12) or the journal 9 (Figs. 4 and 12) may to their entire length or to a substantial part of their length have such a cross-section that they-wherever cut off-will with their end or ends fit to the journal or journals and directly engage the latter. Examples of such cross-sections are shown in Figs. 11 and 13. To mount the device it is only necessary to cut off the intermediate shaft or the journal to a length corresponding to thethick-.

ness of the wall, whereupon the parts may bedirectly assembled without further working the same. If a tube like; 'I- is used to connect the disks 5, said tubeis also cut off to a length corresponding to the thicknessof the wall. In many cases said tube 1 may advantageously be threaded to its entire length in the factory. In such, case it is only necessary to cut off the tube but not to thread the same on the place, on which the device is to be mounted. The only work to be performed on said place is the cutting off and the assembling, while all other work ismade in the factory.

,Analogously, the shaft of extension 29 (Figs. 9, 10, and 12) may have such a cross-section that it-after being cut off to the proper length-will fit to the journals.

:The invention is, however, not limited to those embodiments of detachableconnections of shafts and journals shown and described.

It is to be observed .that the discs 5 may be secured to the wall 3 (Figs; 2 and 4) exclusively by means of the screws 8; the tube 1 and the sockets 6 being then superfluous.

It is to be observed that the discs 5 may be provided with holes, abutments or the like for a tool, such as a wrench, to facilitate the turning of said discs, when screwing them on the tube 1.

What I claim is:-J--

1. In a device for actuating an electric apparatus through a house wall, having a hole therethrough, in combination, two discs secured at the two ends of said hole through said wall, two separate journals rotatably journalled coaxially, independently of each other, and permanently unslidably in the axial direction, one in each of said discs to form two permanently assembled units adapted to be inserted one from each end of said hole, means for coupling said two rotatable journals together within said walls, said coupling means being detachable by pulling said units apart without loosening any locking means, an operative mechanical connection between one of said journals and the electric apparatus to be actuated, and an actuating member connected with the other of said journals.

2. In a device for actuating an electric apparatus through a house wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, two discs secured at the two ends of the hole through said Wall, a journal operatively connected, with said apparatus, a handle, and a second journal rigidly connected with said handle, said two separate journals being journalled rotatably but axially unslidably independently of each other and coaxially in each of said discs,respectively,to form two permanently assembled units adapted'to be inserted one from each end of said hole, means including engaging flanges and recesses for detachably interconnectdiscs secured one at each end of the hole through said wall, said two journals being coaxially and rotatably journalled each in o ne of said discs and adapted to en age said intermediateshaft by means of a recess'and projection connection at their ends facing each. other, an actuating memher on. said second journal, andstops on each of saidjournals to' prevent said journals from slid-- ing axially in said discs, each of said discs together with thecorresponding journal forming a permanently assembled unit.. I

4.:In a device for controlling an apparatus mechanically through a wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, an actuating'shaft on said apparatus, a rotary journal mechanically and operatively connected with said shaft, a second'rotary journal, two discs placed at both ends of the hole through said wall, a threaded tube screwed into said discsto press them against said wall, saidtwo rotary journals being detachably interconnected andcoaxial and rotatably but axially substantially unmovably journalled each in" one of said discs and partially enclosed-by said being placed one at each end of the hole through said wall and forming coaxial bearings for said two rotary journals which are coupled together by means of a recess and flange connection, an actuating member on said second journal, and stops on said rotary journals adaptedto prevent them from sliding axially in said discs, even when said discs are dismounted from said wall.

'6. In a device for controlling an apparatus through a wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, a casing enclosing said'apparatus', an actuating shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, a bevel wheel on said actuating shaft,'a rotary journal, a second bevel wheel secured to said journal and meshing with said first bevel wheel, a disc forming a part of said casing, a second rotary journal, a second disc, said two discs being placed one at each end of the hole through said wall and forming coaxial bearings for said two rotary journals which are coupled together by means of a recess-and-fiange-connection, an actuating member on said second journal, stops on said journals to prevent them from sliding axially in said discs, even when'said discs are dismounted together with said journals, each of said discs together with the corresponding journal therein forming a finished, preassembled unit.

'7. In a control device for actuating an apparatus through a wall having a hole therethrough,

in combination, two discs secured one at each end of the hole through said wall, two coaxial journals rotatably but unslidably in their axial 'direction journalled one in each of said discs, one of said rotary journals being mechanically and oper-' atively connected with an actuating shaft for said apparatus, an actuating member mechanically and operatively connected with the other of said journals, and a slot-and-fian'ge connection be-' tween those ends of 'said' journals which face each other.

8.;In a control'device for actuating an ap pa ratus through a wall havinga hole therethrough,

in combination, two discs secured one at each end of the hole through said well, two coaxial journals rotatably j ournalled one in'each of said discs, said rotary journals, loe'ifigv prevented fI'Qm, S1ldQ-J ing axially in said discs, even before said discs with said journals are mounted in said wall, an actuating shaft for said apparatus mechanically and operatively connected with one of said rotary journals, an actuating member mechanically and operatively connected with the other of said journals, and a slot-andflange connection between those ends of said journals which face each other, said connection comprising also an intermediate shaft.

9. In a control device for actuating an apparatus through a wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, two discs secured one at each end of the hole through said wall, two coaxial journals rotatably journalled one in each of said discs, said rotary journals being prevented from sliding axially in said discs, even before said discs with said journals are mounted in said wall, an actuating shaft for said apparatus mechanically and operatively connected with one of said rotary journals, an actuating member mechanically and operatively connected with the other of said journals, and an intermediate shaft, said journals and said intermediate shaft having such cross-sections that they will detachably engage each other, when cut off to correspond to the thickness of said wall.

10. In a control device, for actuating an apparatus through a wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, two discs secured one at each end of the hole through said wall, two coaxial journals rotatably journalled one in each of said discs, said rotary journals being prevented from sliding axially in said discs, even before said discs with said journals are mounted in said wall, an actuating shaft for said apparatus mechanically and operatively connected with one of said rotary journals, an actuating member mechanically and operatively connected with the other of said journals, and an intermediate shaft, said journals and a said intermediate shaft having such cross-sections that they will fit into each other with a detachable slot-and-fiange connection without being further worked, when out off to correspond to the thickness of said wall.

11. In a control device for actuating an apparatus through a wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, two discs placed one at each end of the hole through said wall, a tube threaded substantially to its entire length and screwed into said discs to press them against said wall, two coaxial journals permanently rotatably journalled one in each of said discs and at least partially enclosed by said tube but immovable in their axial direction, even when said discs are removed from said wall, one of said journals being mechanically and operatively connected with said apparatus while the other of said journals is mechanically and operatively connected with an actuating member for said apparatus, and an intermediate shaft, said journals and said intermediate shaft having such cross-sections that they will fit into each other with a detachable slot-and-flange connection without being further worked, when out off to correspond to the thickness of said wall.

12. In a mechanism for actuating an electric device through a wall having a hole therethrough, in combination at each end of the hole through said wall, a disc, a journal rotatably and unslidably journalled in said disc and forming finished permanently preassembled units, a mechanical coupling on one end of each of said journals to connect said journalswith and detachable only by pulling one of said discs away from said wall, and a connection on the other end of one of said journals to connect the same with the electric device on one side of said wall, and an actuating member on the other journal on the opposite side of said wall from said electric device.

13. In a mechanism for controlling an electric device through a stationary wall of a building having a hole therethrough, in combination, two discs at the ends of said hole, two journals each rotatably and unslidably journalled in one of said discs to form finished assemblies therewith, an actuating shaft for said electric device mechanically connected with one of said rotary journals, an actuating member mechanically connected with the other of said journals, and an intermediate rod, said journals and said intermediate rod having such cross sections that they will form within said wall a detachable mechanical coupling without further shaping the said cross-sectional shape of said rod extending for a substantial distance along said rod whereby the rod may be cut to suit the thickness of the wall without changing the sectional shape of its end.

14. In a device for controlling an electric apparatus mechanically through a house wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, an actuating shaft passing through said hole through said wall, an operative mechanical connection between one end of said shaft and said apparatus, an actuating member mechanically and operatively connected with the other end of said shaft, two separate discs one at each end of said hole respectively, bearings in said discs for said shaft, and a separate tube between said discs extending through said hole connecting and centering said discs in a coaxial relation.

15. In a device for controlling an electric apparatus mechanically through a house wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, a divided shaft passing through the hole through said wall and at one end mechanically and operatively connected with said apparatus to be controlled, an actuating member mechanically and operatively connected with the other end of said shaft, two separate discs, one at each end of said hole, bearings for said shaft in said discs, said discs having threaded holes therein, and a threaded tube between said discs, said tube enclosing said shaft in said hole and engaging the threaded holes in said discs and forming a rigid aggregate together with said discs, said discs having their bearings firmly centered coaxially by said tube.

16. In a device for controlling an electric apparatus mechanically through a house wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, a shaft passing through the hole through said wall and at one end mechanically and operatively connected with said apparatus to be controlled, an actuating member mechanically and operatively connected with the other end of said shaft, two separate discs one at each end of said hole, bearings for said shaft in each of said discs, a threaded tube between said discs, said discs being provided with threaded sockets engaged by the threaded ends of said tube, whereby rigid aggregate is formed with said discs and said bearings are centered coaxially, said discs being firmly pressed against both sides of said wall by said tube.

1'7. In a device for controlling an electric apparatus mechanically through a house wall having a hole therethrough, in combination, a shaft passing through the hole through said wall, said shaft being at one end mechanically and operatively connected with said apparatus to be controlled, an actuating member mechanically and operatively connected with the other end of said shaft,

two separate discs one at each end of said hole respectively, bearings in said discs for said shaft, a tube threaded to its entire length and extending between said discs, said discs being provided with threaded sockets engaged by said threaded tube, whereby a rigid aggregate with said discs is formed and said bearings are centered in a coaxial relation, said tube enclosing said shaft, said discs being firmly pressed against both sides of said wall by said tube, regardless of whether or not the sides of the wall are exactly parallel.

KARL J OHAN JUN GHOLM. 

